Minneapolis USA – Wildlife & Birds of Prey Photography in Snow

Photograph at a Venue used by some of the World’s Top Professional Photographers

You will have the privilege of photographing wildlife at a specialist private professional photography and filming animal reserve near Minneapolis in the USA. This is a totally separate organisation to our “Pro Shoot Big Cats in Snow USA”. This is a large breeding centre where animals are also trained to “pose” for top professional photographers and film producers worldwide. Some of the biggest names in photography have visited this location on several occasions. This venue does not possess the largest species that are often the main reason for visiting the other venue in Montana. It does however benefit from having at least two or three workable animals of a number of species. This makes for some really impressive action pictures as the animals interact and chase each other around, often tumbling in the snow as they do so. This venue is not only a wonderful experience in its own right, but it also really complements the “Pro Shoot Big Cats in Snow USA” and a week at each venue will see you returning with a portfolio that would have otherwise taken many years to put together. There will be a maximum of 8 photographers taking part in this event. There will be no obtrusive fences, wires or glass between you and your subjects. Absolutely nothing but cool fresh air. Obviously snow cannot be absolutely guaranteed but history shows that snow in this state at this time of year is almost a certainty.

Amateur Photographers most Welcome

Similarly to Montana, this venue has remained a closely guarded secret amongst many top professional photographers for a number of years. Photographers on Safari are now making it available to anybody wanting to share this privilege. You can photograph the exact same animals at the exact same locations that have been used by many photographers to provide stunning shots for their books and magazine articles. You do not need to be a professional (or even a photographer) to attend this workshop. Tuition plus any needed help and advice will be offered prior to and in between photography sessions. A computer will also be used back at the hotel to assess each photographer’s work, and a constructive critique will be offered.

Wolves on Snow Covered Island in a fast flowing river or in front of a Frozen Waterfall

The wolves are taken to one particular river location where there is a short waterfall. Most of the river is frozen over and where it is not, the water runs extremely fast. This makes some really dramatic foregrounds and backgrounds for your shots of these particularly photogenic animals. There is a small island in the middle of this river and the wolves are quite happy to trot across a shallow and slow running part of the river to this picturesque spot. They then cross again to the far bank and explore the virgin snow and ice mounds which are inaccessible to people. Some of the colours behind the waterfall area are amazing. The rocks are almost golden in places.. This area can be shot both in the morning and in the afternoon. The subjects are backlit in the mornings and really thick hoar frost clings to the branches which hang in front of dark black rocks. A wonderful backdrop for your subjects. In the afternoon the frost has gone but, with the low sun behind you, the light on the wolves is really special.

Red Fox, Gray Fox, Silver Fox & Cross Fox

The Red Fox is, without doubt, the prettiest of the four breeds of foxes present at this location. Here you will not just be shooting one fox, but two or three Red Foxes will be released into a two acre enclosure. There will be lots of chasing around and an occasional dispute between the family of foxes is inevitable. If you are quick enough to capture one of those brief moments you will be delighted. The Cross Fox has very similar markings to the Red Fox, but has a long dark stripe running down its back, which intersects another stripe to form a cross over the shoulders. The Gray Fox is a mixture of red and grey, and is a much prettier animal than its name suggests. It will often climb trees to escape from another predator. The Silver Fox is a mixture of black and silver with black ears and nose.

Coyotes & Lynx

Once again at least two Coyotes will be released together in the large enclosure. Mum tends to stay in one area while the daughter chases everywhere. The daughter is well aware that she should not encroach a small area that Mum has made her own. She repeatedly runs in and out of this area just to annoy her mother. Inevitably there will be the odd skirmish, once again offering superb photo opportunities. The Lynx photography is likely to be a more sedentary affair, but great shots of this subject will be on offer.

Arctic Wolf & Arctic Fox

The Arctic Wolf is a really beautiful animal. It is a subspecies of the Gray Wolf and is also known as the Polar Wolf or the White Wolf. We shoot this animal in a disused quarry. The landscape is virtually identical to parts of the Arctic region where I have photographed Polar Bears. The Arctic Fox also benefits from an all white background.

Pack of Wolves on Carcass

We will photograph a number of Wolves together eating a deer carcass. Minneapolis is in one of the few states that allow the collection of road kill for private use. In most states it is illegal to pick up fallen animals. Here, police advise our host of any animals that lay on the roadside and thereby a constant supply of natural food is available. Wolves have a pecking order when feeding and a lot of snarling – a way of warning off the lower ranked wolves, accompanies feeding times. A great spectacle.

Mountain Lion and Bobcat

The Mountain Lion has several other names. It is also called a Cougar, a Puma, a Mountain Cat and a Panther – depending on the region it inhabits. It is officially classed as a Small Cat. It is the largest animal in its class and an adult can be 9 feet from nose to tail. In January 2011, I was extremely fortunate to find a female Mountain Lion here with 3 cubs just 2 months old. It was a real privilege to have three sessions with this family out in the snow. There is no guarantee that young cubs will be available here every year, but this is a large commercial breeding centre and there is no reason why not. I did also get a quick glimpse of three Black Bears just a few hours old. No photographs, but an experience that will never be forgotten.

Whitetail Deer, Fisher and Badger

There is a breeding herd of Whitetail Deer here. They are fenced in a large wooded area and look great amongst the light coloured Aspen trees on the snow covered ground. We go inside the enclosure with them and there are also wild Turkeys here. They fly in and out to grab some of the food put out for the deer. They are amazingly agile for such a large bird. The American Badger is nothing like our English version. It is quite comical as it grunts loudly while continuously digging in the snow. The Fisher, also known as a Fisher Cat, is like a giant Weasel. It can grow to 4 feet in length and can weigh 5 kilos. They are agile climbers and seldom eat fish. They feed on small mammals and occasional fruits or mushrooms.

Birds of Prey

We will spend one of our 5 days photographing Birds of Prey. These will be placed in carefully chosen spots to make the very best of our subjects. Birds will be brought from a local centre that looks after birds that become injured. We will use birds that have been restored to good health but cannot be re-released. Currently they have seven birds that we can use. They are, subject to availability, a Bald Eagle, a Red Tailed Hawk, two American Kestrels, an Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl and a Great Horned Owl. If photographing the birds does not take all day, then we will complete the session with some more animals.

Cost

Minneapolis to Minneapolis £2450.00 (excl. international flight)

Included;

All meals after arrival at hotel until departure from hotel. Breakfast is basic continental as supplied by hotel. Lunch is good local cooking. Evening meal (subject to reasonable limit). No single supplements charged at Days Inn. All transport as above. Tuition.

Anyone wishing to combine this trip with a week in Montana can do this very easily. There are direct flights from Minneapolis to Bozeman, and Saturday 11th January is the recommended day of arrival from Bozeman. Photographers on Safari will pay the cost of the extra night’s stay in Bozeman (10th January) for anybody choosing to combine the two workshops. (food at own expense during break between venues.)